Driver murder puts Bolt in hot seat in South Africa

こんにちは,

Victoria and Delight from Techpoint here,

Here’s what we’ve got for you today:

Driver murder puts Bolt in hot seat
Likeable or skilled? One techie’s inner battle
StarSat StarSat strikes back at Icasa raid

Driver murder puts Bolt in hot seat

Remember that sometime in October 2023, we talked about the alleged murder of three e-hailing drivers in Nigeria and Bolt and Uber’s response to the incident?

Well, a South African Bolt driver, Nguquko Gaza, was allegedly murdered by a rider in Johannesburg after ending a trip from Bertrams to Berea booked on the e-hailing platform.

The late Gaza, who was laid to rest on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, appeared to accept a ride request from the suspects before being led to a secluded area where he was robbed and then killed. The suspects reportedly fled after the action; however, one of the suspect’s face was caught on camera.

This incident has again brought to light the insecurities e-hailing drivers face and the lack of safety measures from these ride platforms.

Although Bolt had announced a new verification system for riders, this feature is voluntary and can only be activated before a trip. The company even introduced the selfie request for new riders in South Africa.

Hundreds of e-hailing drivers have expressed their displeasure, some taking to social media while others carried placards and made processions to the crime scene.

The E-hailing Partners Council (EPCO) accused these companies of failing to properly verify riders and app users, emphasising the recurring cases of murder, robbery, and hijackings that often go unresolved and without justice.

Bolt has yet to respond to concerns about proper validation for riders; however, the company condemns the incident and is reportedly working with relevant authorities to curb these violence.

Likeable or skilled? One techie’s inner battle

Have you ever found yourself wondering if your success comes from your skills or just because people like you? That’s the dilemma Chioma grapples with.

At just 27, she’s already snagged a senior role at a Nigerian tech company and is even considering an offer from an international firm. But despite all her achievements, she can’t shake off the feeling that maybe she’s not as deserving as everyone thinks.

Chioma knows she’s pretty good at her job. She’s put in the late nights, tackled big problems, and done everything you’d expect from someone in her position. Still, there’s this nagging thought that maybe people are keeping her around just because they like her, not necessarily because she’s the best fit for the role. Sound familiar?

She’s not insecure about her skills, but sometimes she wonders if being likeable is the real reason for her success. And honestly, who can blame her? I mean, I like to think I’m a likeable person too — come on, don’t you like me? 😂 Oh, right? There we go!

Being likeable can open a lot of doors, especially during a job interview, and help build strong networks. But let’s be real, just being likeable won’t keep you in your job.

The bottom line is that both your skills and how you connect with people matter. If you ask me, Chioma’s hard work and dedication are what got her to where she is today, and being likeable is just a bonus. There’s really no reason for her to let imposter syndrome sneak in and make her second-guess herself.

Want to read more about her story and perhaps, how she tackles imposter syndrome? Check out Oluwanifemi’s story for all the deets.

StarSat strikes back at Icasa raid

StarSat office — Source: mybroadband.co.za

Last Friday, StarSat hit back at South Africa’s communications regulator, Icasa, accusing them of having ulterior motives after a raid on their offices earlier in the week.

The raid, which took place on Wednesday, went beyond just cutting off StarSat’s services — according to the broadcaster, Icasa also disconnected equipment belonging to StarTimes Media, which operates in 23 African countries.

Pule Mabe, StarSat’s public affairs head, said the regulator’s actions hinted at an agenda, though they stopped short of making direct accusations.

The whole ordeal started because StarSat’s licence expired, and Icasa secured a search-and-seizure warrant to take action. They confiscated servers, cables, and other equipment, but StarSat argues that the raid was overly aggressive and that some of the equipment Icasa took, specifically StarTimes’, shouldn’t have been touched, as their licence is still valid.

StarSat’s legal team is now fighting back, claiming Icasa may have violated the law in how they conducted the raid.

They’ve approached the high court in Pretoria to get their equipment back, but the process has hit a snag as they wait for signatures from StarTimes, which was also affected. They’re also thinking about taking their case to Communications Minister Solly Malatsi.

Meanwhile, the raid has left viewers across 23 African countries without access to some of their favourite channels, like Discovery and National Geographic, as the company deals with the aftermath.

StarSat says they’ve been trying to engage with Icasa to avoid this, but their efforts didn’t get much of a response, and they’re not happy with how Icasa handled things during the raid.

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Have a productive week!

Victoria Fakiya for Techpoint Africa.